4 Ways To Save Money When Shopping Online

As more Malaysians embrace the online shopping trend, it has become more important for them to get the best out of their online purchases.

It is not just important to observe all the security factors when you are making an online purchase, but also the ways to stretch the bucks the most. One way is of course, to look out for sales and discounts – but when there is none – it pays to have the right credit card to see you through the non-sale season.

According to an online survey done by e-commerce.milo in December 2013, 91% of online users shop online, with 54% of them shopping online at least once a month. With such a big market in Malaysia, it is important for them to know how to get the best out of their money when they are spending online.

Make online shopping even more enjoyable by saving money with every purchase you make. Here are four tips that will save you some bucks:

1. Shop with a high cash back credit card

According to the same survey, 75% of online shoppers prefer to use credit or debit card to pay for the purchases. These are convenient payment methods and most people own either one, if not both, of these cards.

“The three main areas that we have identified are good Internet penetration, mode of payment and delivery. Most Malaysians prefer to pay via credit and debit cards,” Masaya Ueno, the president and chief executive officer of Rakuten Online Shopping Malaysia, confirmed based on another survey conducted by Rakuten.

Since shoppers are already spending online with the cards, it is even more important now to use the right plastic and be rewarded for every online spending.

Choose a card that offers the highest cash back or lets you accrue the most reward points for online payments. One such card is the CIMB Cash Rebate MasterCard which comes in Gold and Platinum.

In addition and until 31 December 2014, this card will give you 20% Additional Cash Rebate for airline tickets purchased online and 15% at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC).

2. Buy when there are promotions or discounts with selected online merchants

Be shop savvy. Always be on the lookout for great deals and only buy from merchants that offer you the best value for your money.

With the right credit card, there will always be discounts and promotions with selected merchants, all year long. Shopping with an online shopping credit card like CIMB Cash Rebate MasterCard opens up doors to various discounts like 25% upfront discount with Zalora, 10% with Lazada, and various other online merchants!

For example, if you are planning to buy a watch at Zalora with your CIMB Cash Rebate MasterCard credit card, here’s how much you can save!

With the cash back and upfront discount, you have saved about RM46.58 overall – a whopping 29%!

3. Buy more than one item from a merchant

What you save on petrol and parking from driving to the mall, you will most probably make it up in delivery or shipping cost when you shop online. However, most merchants offer free shipping if you spend over a certain amount.

Lazada offers free shipping for purchases over RM80, while Zalora will ship your purchases for free if the total checkout amount is RM75 or more.

4. Only buy from secure and reputable websites

Avoiding online credit card fraud is the best way to save your money. Therefore, it is imperative to check that the website you are buying from is legitimate and secure!

Make sure that the web address of the page starts with https:// before you enter payment or any personal details. Check also that a small padlock appears at the bottom of your screen. It’s also a good idea to print out a copy of your order for your reference rather than rely on having it sent to your email.

When it comes to online shopping, security is a priority, but saving money is equally important. Using the right credit card can make a lot of difference in how much you can save in the long run.